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Friday, April 20, 2012

WHAT'S YOUR SECRET LIFE?

Every year during National Poetry Month, I like to share the poem " A Secret Life" by Stephen Dunn.

That's because, for many years, writing was my secret life. And so this poem remains one of my all-time favorites:

A SECRET LIFE

by Stephen Dunn

Why you need to have one
is not much more mysterious than
why you don't say what you think
at the birth of an ugly baby.
Or, you've just made love
and feel you'd rather have been
in a dark booth where your partner
was nodding, whispering yes, yes,
you're brilliant. The secret life
begins early, is kept alive
by all that's unpopular
in you, all that you know
a Baptist, say, or some other
accountant would object to.
It becomes what you'd most protect
if the government said you can protect
one thing, all else is ours.
When you write late at night
it's like a small fire
in a clearing, it's what
radiates and what can hurt
if you get too close to it.
It's why your silence is a kind of truth.
Even when you speak to your best friend,
the one who'll never betray you,
you always leave out one thing;
a secret life is that important.

So now I have a new secret life. And I hope you do too!

In other news: you can win a copy of my latest collection of poems THE COLOR LOST ROOMS at Writing With Cheryl!

And while you're there, get to know Cheryl. She was the one who taught the class (on freelance writing for magazines) oh about a dozen years ago that got me on the road to publication of my poems and stories!

OH. And my video is up at Renee LaTulippe's No Water River! Renee is pretty amazing. I am in awe of her technoskills and enthusiasm for poetry. She has done SO MUCH this month to add to the growing canon of work on the web by poets for children. Thank you, Renee! I'm thrilled to be included.

Natalie - I think writing for oneself is probably one of the most honest, true things a person can do. There is so much value in the bravery it takes to put your innermost self on the page. And then, yes, there is a whole other sort of bravery required to share that work with others. I can tell you this: for me, it's the best part. Connecting with others over some bit of your heart that exists in writing... THE BEST PART. Keep writing, Natalie. And someday, surprise those folks, honor them and yourself by sharing your gift with them. xo

Irene--You are so generous and gracious with your encouragement. I think for me, becoming comfortable in my "writer-skin" has been a very gradual process. I finally started my blog back in December, using my real name and my real photo which was huge step for me. But I've never attached my last name to it--(which was no accident)--and I've definitely never told anybody about it. :)

It has allowed me to connect to a very talented and supportive writing community online, and participate in way that builds my confidence little by little. I am still not at the point where I feel comfortable sharing my writing life with people in my day to day world--but I'll get there someday.

The last four lines of this poem struck such a deep chord with me,

"Even when you speak to your best friend,the one who'll never betray you,you always leave out one thing;a secret life is that important."

Aaah!!! What a wonderful poem that is. I am so glad you decided to share your secret life with the world, Irene! I'm not sure what my secret life is...perhaps it has to do with all the things I'm not but could have been.

Thank you SO MUCH for taking part in the poetry extravaganza at NWR!! I hope you know you can come back any time!

Thanks, Julie. We spend so much time thinking of secrets as unhealthy/bad, and of course they can be... I love that this poem celebrates secrets. Also, been meaning to tell you... after reading your posts on your experience with The Artist's Way, I think I'm going to give it a go very soon. Thank you!

You have shared so much news here. Sorry it's Saturday, but just couldn't get to everyone yesterday. I can see why your poem is something you return to again & again. Sometimes it's hard to give up all the self even if you've given more & more as the years pass. So, each time you share I can imagine that it's a new secret. That's how I think I am. I believe there is an essential core that may never be revealed, & that's okay, keeps the fire burning. Thanks Irene for all, & I loved your interview at Renee's!

Ooooh, secret lives. Very telling, just the thought of it. These are my favorite lines:"When you write late at nightit's like a small firein a clearing, it's what radiates and what can hurtif you get too close to it.It's why your silence is a kind of truth."-- resonates with me deeply - the silence being a kind of truth. When words fail, and poetry nods off into the distance, there is always the power of silence.

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Words to Live By

"Err on the side of love." - my Mama

"Life isn't about finding yourself.Life is about creating yourself."- Anonymous

“Love. Fall in love and stay in love. Write only what you love,and love what you write.The key word is love.You have to get up in the morning and write something you love, something to live for.”- Ray Bradbury